Wednesday

Feb 27, 2013 at 1:46 PM

A thief with a sweet tooth got away with about 5,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies in storage.

A thief with a sweet tooth got away with about 5,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies in storage.The Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office is investigating a cookie caper — the theft of about 450 cases of cookies from a warehouse belonging to Carey Moving & Storage of Spartanburg. The company has assisted with the storage and distribution of Girl Scout cookies in the area for 40 years said owner Brian Carey.Carey said cookies began arriving at the warehouse on Feb. 15, and employees began doing an inventory on Tuesday and realized that cases of Thin Mints and Shortbreads were missing. The stolen cookies are valued at $18,900."We don't think it was a break in," Carey said. "The warehouse is very secure, with an alarm system and video (surveillance)."Cookie sales won't be affected, as the missing sweets were extra inventory and the Girl Scouts won't be charged for them, Carey said. "Someone who would do that to the Girl Scouts, it's very disheartening," Carey said. "I was very saddened. We've never had this issue before and our employees undergo background checks and drug tests. My great-grandfather started this company in 1907 and we don't want anything to tarnish our reputation or the Girl Scouts."Susan Schneider, director of public relations and advocacy for Girl Scouts of SC — Mountains to Midlands, said the incident will not affect sales at cookie booths in coming weeks."We're still business as usual," Schneider said. "We have plenty of cookies."Girl Scout Troop 1013 is planning "Cookie Palooza," a large public event Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cowpens Town Hall. 5330 N. Main St. The family-friendly event will feature a cookie sales booth with a disc jockey and music, a cookie drive-thru and a goal of selling at least 100 boxes of cookies for soldiers overseas.The Girl Scout Cookie Program generated $790 million in revenues last year. It is the largest girl-led business in the country. Cookies will be sold at local retail locations on weekends from now until March 18, according to a written statement from the organization.Scout leaders say selling cookies has tremendous benefits for the scouts and their communities and teaches goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics.Schneider said she is curious about whether someone plans to sell the stolen cookies and pocket the money, or if he or she just really likes Thin Mints or Shortbreads and will eat them all. She said Girl Scouts will be out in their uniforms or other identification selling cookies with at least one adult. Boxes cost $3.50. Some proceeds from cookie sales go back to each community through beautification and other community service projects by the Girl Scouts."I am disappointed that people with a sweet tooth would go to such lengths," Schneider said. "Not only are they short-changing the Girl Scouts, they're short-changing their community as well. I hope we'll find out what they were thinking and what they planned to do with them."No suspects were listed on the incident report. The case remains under investigation and deputies are hopeful of catching a thief with his or her hand in the Thin Mints soon, possibly through surveillance footage from the warehouse that has been turned over to the sheriff's office."There is no new information, but our investigator has good information and he is feeling good about the direction the investigation is taking," Lt. Tony Ivey said Wednesday.Anyone with information about the missing cookies may call CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIMESC.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.